Amusement apparatus



W. H. BALCKE AND W. A. READY. AMUSEMENT APPARATUS.

APPLICATION HLED MAY]. 1920.

1,397,832, Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

UNITED stares PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER I-I. BALCKE, 0F WINCHESTER, AND WILLIAM: A. READY, OF BRIGHTON,

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS T0 NATIONAL COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSA- CHUSETTS, A CORPORATIGN OF MASSACHUSETTS.

AMUSEMENT AIPARATUS.

Specification of Letters IPatent.

Patented N ov. 22, 1921.

Application filed May 1, 1920. Serial No. 378,113.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, VVALrnn H. BALCKE and I/VILLIAM A. READY, citizens of the United States, residing, respectively, at Winchester and Brighton, in the counties of Middlesex and buffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Amusement Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to amusement apparatus of that class which com arises a phonograph and a dancing toy figure.

In devices of this character, it has heretofore been customary to drive the mechanism which operates the dancing toy figure directly from the record disk centering pin by means of a clutch which engages the centering pin and is driven by frictional contact therewith. In many cases, however, the centering pin does not project above the top of the record disk and in'such cases, the clutch could not be connected to the centering pin and in any event a very accurate and close fit was necessary between the centering pin and the clutch, in order that the centering pin should not slip in the clutch.

The object of the invention is to provide a mechanically operated toy figure and mechanism to operate the figure which is driven by a member which has frictional contact with the record carrying disk or.

with the record disk supported on said record carrying disk, this member being driven entirely by frictional contact with one or the other of said disks. To this end the memher is made of heavy material, such as lead, and is preferably provided with three contact plugs, preferably made of rubber, whereby the driving member has a three point contact with the record disk or with the record carrying disk, as the case may be.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts set forth in the following pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a phonograph having a mechanically operated toy or dancing toy figure embodying my invention connected therewith;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the mechanism which imparts motion to the dancing toy figure and the casing in which it is inclosed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation specification and particularly The invention as shown in the drawing is applied to a phonograph which may be of any usual or suitable construction and is here shown as embodying a casing 1.0, a

record disk carrier 12, a sound box arm 13 and a sound box -14L; the handle 15 being provided for the purpose of winding the spring motor located within the casing 10 and whlch rotates the record disk carrier 12. The casing 10 has embodied therein an arm p'lifying horn 1 8, the opening of which is regulated by the doors 19.

The mechanically operated toy figure and operating mechanism therefor includes essentially a platform and supporting means therefor adapted to be arranged on the phonograph casing and driving means for the toy figure arranged to be driven by either the record disk carrier 12 or by a record disk 11, mounted on the record disk carrier 12.

. 20 represents the dancing platform which is designed to be supported in elevated position above the record disk 11 and disposed radially relatively thereto and said platform has secured to it at one end arms 21 which extend downward and the extremities of said arms are secured to a weight 22 which rests upon the phonograph casingoutside the edge of the record disk carrier. The other end of said platform has a recess 23 in its underside into' which the upper end 24 of a vertical rotary member 25 projects.

The rotary member 25 has a downwardly projecting extension 26 which is rotatably mounted in a bottom plate 27 of a casing 28. The casing 28 is provided with cars 29 and is fastened to the underside of the platform 20 by tacks 80 which project through said ears and into said platform.

The extension 26 is provided with a slot 31 in its lower end and through said slot a-pin 82 projects, said pin being fastened at its opposite ends to a disk 33 constitut ing a driving member and preferably formed of lead or other heavy metal. The

,their arms and legs jointed to the back pordriving member 33 has an annular groove gage the record disk carrier 12. The record disk carrier 12 is provided with the usual disk centering pin 36 which is concentric with the vertical rotary member 25. The driving member 33 is provided with a conical centraljorifice 37 into which the lower end of the extension 26 of the rotary mem: ber 25 projects. The lower end of said extension is rounded off or made conical to engage the walls of the 'conicalorifice 37.

Therotary member 25 is provided with a series of radially extending pins 40 which, during the rotation of said rotary member, are adapted to alternately engage'and release a cam lever 41. Said cam lever is formed of a plate at sheet metal andhas a pair of oppositely disposed cars 42 on oppositeredges thereof which are pivotally mounted .upon a shaft v43 extending acrossthe casing 28. The endportion 44 of said cam lever is bent upwardly at '45 so thatjas the rotary member 25 is rotated in the di rection of the arrow a, Fig. 2, the pins 40 alternately engage and release the raised portion 45 of the cam lever 41 and cause it to rock upon its pivotal shaft 43.

The rotary member 25 with the pins 40 thereof constitute a rotary cam. The end 46 of the cam lever 41 engages the lower end of a support 47 for the toy figures 48 and 49. The support 47 terminates at one end in a vertical shank 50 and at the other end in portions 51 which extend. into the figures 48 and 49 and between these two end portions 50 and 51 there is anintermediate portion 52 which is offset from the shank 50 and is bent to form a spring, the support being constructed of light spring wire.

The figures 48 and 49 are formed with tion and when it rests, the feet of the figures just touch the upper surface of the platform 20. V

In the drawings there are two dancing figures illustrated but it is evident that if desired one of these figures may be omitted and the other figure would perform the dancing operation in the same manner as stated in relation to the two figures.

The operation of the device is as follows: a y

The driving member 33 is placed in position upon the record disk 11 or upon the record diskcarrier 12, as the case may be, withthe orifice 3'7 approximately concentric with the centering pin 36. The platform 20 is then placed in position with the eX- tension 26 projecting into the conical shaped orifice 37 and with the cross pin 32 extending through the'slot 31.

The figuresare placed in position upon the platform 20 with the weight 22 resting upon the top of the casing 10 and with the shank 50 of the support 47 projecting downwardly through the tube 53 and resting upon the end 46 of the cam lever 41; said cam lever is provided with a rubber band 54 which deadens any noise that the cam lever 41 1nay otherwise make when dropping to its lowermost position and contacting with the bottom 27 of the casing 28.

When the phonograph is operated the record disk 11 or the record disk carrier 12, as the case maybe, rotates the driving member 33 through frictional contact of the contact plugs 34 therewith. and the pin 32 rotates the vertical rotary member 25 and the pins 40 on said vertical rotary member, thus causing the cam lever 41 to rock upwardly and downwardly and thus the support .47 is moved upwardly and down wardly and the dancing toy figures-attached thereto are alternately moved into and out of contact with the platform 20. At the same time the shank 50 of the support 47 is adapted to rotate in the tube 53 and said figures therefore have given to them an upward and downward movement and a retary movement while at the same time their arms and legs being jointed to the body portions thereof assume different amusing positions and give the figures all the semblance of dancing. 7

It has been foundby operating the device hereinbeforedescribed if the driving mem-' ber 33 is placed upon the record disk or upon the record disk carrier, eccentric to either one of said disks, and a rotary motion imparted to the rotary disk that said driving to a toy figure from a phonograph disk, it is V 'GVlClGlll) thatthe comb1nat1on of a horizon tal rotary member, a vertical rotary member and a driving memberpositioned upon the horizontal rotary member and having frictional contact therewith and being connected to the vertical rotary member, whereby upon rotating the horizontal rotary member the vertical rotary member will be rotated, might be'used forother purposes than the specific purpose of imparting movement to a dancing toy andwe do not'wish tobe understood as limiting our invention to such 1 specific use. 7 V V It-will be understoodv that the device of this invention is operative when the driving member 33 is placed upon the record disk or on the record carrying disk and, therefore, in the claims the word disk may be understood as applying either to the record disk 11 or to the record disk carrier 12.

Ne claim:

1. In combination a horizontal rotary member, a platform located thereabove, a dancing figure positioned above said platform, a vertical reciprocatory member upon which said figure is mounted, mechanism adapted to reciprocate said reciprocatory member, a driving member for said mechanism supported upon said horizontal rotary member and frictional means interposed between said driving member and said horizontal rotary member, whereby said driving member may be frictionally driven, while stationary relatively to said horizontal rotary member.

2. In combination, a rotary disk, a dancing figure, mechanism adapted to impart motion to said figure, a driving member for said mechanism mounted upon said rotary disk and frictional means interposed between said rotary disk and driving member whereby said driving member may be frictionally driven while said driving member is stationary relatively to said rotary disk.

3. In combination, a rotary disk, a stationary platform, a dancing figure positioned above said platform, mechanism adapted to impart motion to said figure, a driving member for said mechanism mounted upon said rotary disk and frictional means fast to said driving member and projecting downwardly therefrom into contact with said rotary disk,

whereby said mechanism may be driven by said driving member while said driving member is stationary relatively to said rotary disk.

4;. In combination, a rotary disk, a stationary platform, a dancing figure positioned above said platform, mechanism supported upon said platform adapted to impart motion to said figure, a driving member for said mechanism mounted upon said rotary disk and yielding frictional means interposed between said rotary disk and driving member, whereby said mechanism may be driven by said driving member while said driving member is stationary relatively to said rotary disk.

5. In combination, a casing, a rotary disk, a platform mounted on said casing and pro jecting over said disk, a dancing figure positioned over said platform, mechanism adapted to impart motion to said fig ure, a driving member for said mechanism mounted upon said rotary disk and rubber frictional means interposed between said rotary disk and driving member, whereby said mechanism may be driven by said driving member While said driving member is stationary relatively to said rotary disk.

6. In combination, a horizontal rotary disk, a driving member supported upon said disk, a plurality of frictional contact plugs on the lower face of said driving member and contacting with said horizontal rotary disk, a platform movably positioned upon a stationary support and projecting over said disk and mechanism including a vertical rotary member mounted on said platform and engaging said driving member whereby said vertical rotary member may be rotated by said driving. member through frictional contact of said plugs with said disk while stationary relatively thereto.

7 In combination, a horizontal rotary disk, a driving member supported upon said disk, yielding frictional means fast to said driving member upon its lower face and pro jecting downwardly therefrom into contact with said rotary disk, a platform movably positioned upon a stationary support and projecting over said disk and mechanism including a vertical rotary member mounted on said platform and engaging said driving member, whereby said vertical rotary member may be rotated by said driving member'through frictional contact of said yielding frictional means with said disk and said driving member maybe concentrically positioned upon said disk.

8. In combination, a horizontal rotary disk, a vertical rotary member, a bearing for said vertical rotary member movably mounted upon a stationary support, a driving member positioned upon said disk, a plurality of rubber plugs fast to said driving member and projecting downwardly therefrom into contact with said horizontal. rotary disk, said driving member being connected to said vertical rotary member, whereby upon rotating said disk said driving member will be automatically concentrically positioned upon said disk and said vertical rotary member will be rotated.

9. In combination, a casing, a disk rotatably mounted upon said casing, a platform supported upon said casing and movable relatively thereto, a dancing figure supported above said platform, mechanism supported upon said platform adapted to impart motion to said figure, a driving member mounted upon said rotary disk and frictional means upon the lower face of said driving member adapted to engage said rotary disk, whereby said mechanism may be driven by said driving member through frictional contact with said disk while said driving member is stationary relatively thereto.v

port and having a slot extending transverselythereof, a drivingmember positioned rotary member and frictional means interposed between said driving member and I horizontal rotary member, said driving member being connected to said vertical rotary member whereby upon rotating said horizontal rotary member a rotary motion will be imparted to said vertical rotary member through said driving member,

' while said driving member is stationary role.-

.tively to said horizontal rotary member.

. 12. In combination, a horizontal rotary member, a vertical rotary member, a bearmg forsaid vertical rotary member movably mounted upon a stationary support, a driving member positioned upon said horizontal rotary member, a plurality of rubber plugs spaced apart, fast to said driving member and projecting downwardly therefrom into contact with said horizontal rotary member, said driving member beingconnected to said vertical rotary inemberjiwhereby upon r0- tating said horizontal" rotary member said driving member will be automatically concentrically positioned upon the said horizontal rotary member and said vertical rotary member will be rotated while said driv ing member is stationary relatively to said horizontal rotary member. 7

13. In combination, a rotary disk, a dancingfigure, means adapted-to impart motion 4 to said dancing figure, a driving member mounted upon said rotary disk and yielding frictional means interposed between the lower face of said driving member and said rotary disk and contacting with said rotary 5 disk, whereby said means may be operated to impart motion to said dancing figure while said driving member is stationary relatively to said rotary disk.

14. In combination, a rotary disk, a danc- 5 ing figure, means adapted to impart motion to said dancing figure and a driving member mounted upon said rotary disk with aplurality of frictional contact plugs on its lower face'contacting with said rotary disk 6 and adapted to operate said means to-impartmotion'to said dancing figure while said driving member is-stationary relatively to said rotary disk. I

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALTER H. BA-LCKE. WILLIAM A. READY. Witnesses: i V V FRANKLIN E. Low, CATHERINE M. JoYoE. 

